Introduction

In recent years we have been spreading Peruvian culture with such subjects as Colonial Painting from Cuzco; Caral and the origins of American civilisation , and the Huaca Pucllana Ceremonial Centre.

This year we will provide some information on the highland sanctuaries of the southern Andes , a fascinating piece of research and archaeological conservation of the civilisation of the Inca Empire which will give 28 million Peruvians an introspective view of our origins and a vision of a successful future.

Sanctuaries of Southern Andes is the result of the joint efforts of North American and Peruvian archaeologists, who are currently making new discoveries in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

The material contained in this annual report and that which we have published in our reports and bulletins during the year has been compiled with help from Santa Maria Catholic University in Arequipa, which is responsible for the preservation of the cultural heritage in the Santuarios de Altura - Santury museums in the White City.

We would like to thank the authorities who have enabled us to do this, especially the Rector Dr Julio Ernesto Paredes Núñez and Dr José Antonio Chávez Chávez, who together made the main scientific discoveries.

Publication and Conservation of Cultural Heritage

The “Highland Sanctuaries of the Southern Andes” project in the region's mountains is the fruit of more than 26 years of research by Dr José Antonio Chávez and Dr Johan Reinhard, directors of the project.

The field and academic research is supported by a large multi-discipline team of professionals from Peru and abroad, both temporary and permanent, who are contributing knowledge gained from their scientific work.

More than a dozen mummies discovered on different mountains in southern Peru are kept in the museum in an environment especially created for preservation, research and exhibition of the archaeological materials that are being researched. The installations are fitted with a glass vacuum chamber, freezer and rooms designed to protect them from the environment.

The urn is secured with steel profiles and contains two layers of Plexiglass. The interior of the urn is kept at a temperature of -19,2 ºC to -19,5 ºC, to prevent dehydration and decomposition of the organic material.

 

"Juanita", Ampato Volcano